The end of an era? Closing of the last Major Magic's..
microlo...@yahoo.com
http://detroit.craigslist.org/bfs/534760357.html
Sad, but not unexpected. The last two holdouts here in the
"D" (Gratiot & John R) closed over the last couple years.. I guess
this one in OH is the last one!
pop...@gmail.com
Apparently at one time there was at least 9 in existence, including 3
in New York, and maybe 1 in Pennsylvania.
jayhawker
Frankly, who cares? I went into the place a couple of years ago since
my job had me covering Toledo. The place was such a literal shit-hole
that I turned around and left after about 2 minutes. The place stunk
like a locker room, barely any classics, more than half of the games
were not working and there literally was no one in the place. On top
of it, it is in a horrible location in one of the seedier parts of
town. I'm surprised its stayed open this long.
microlo...@yahoo.com
I remember the last time I went to the one on Gratiot. It was in the
middle of the summer and the A/C wasn't working! It was hot, sweaty,
uncomfortable, the games were old, many not working, the TV room was
roped off, etc.. It was just a shell of its former self. Probably the
only reason I enjoyed going was because of all the memories! I still
had a good time though. I'm not sure my 5-year-old daughter really
"got it" though. The kids like caesarland. I think caesarland is
hard to beat when you've got little kids. The $5 pizzas feed several
toddlers, and there's lots to do there that doesn't require any tokens
at all!
pop...@gmail.com
other day, and there is no evidence that there ever was a Major
Magic's there.
The John R store used to be two units before it became Major Magic's,
and after it closed it split up again. One half is now some computer
company (I think), and the other half is still vacant. The big red
door is still there, though.
The building that house the store on Hall Road seems to be going
through some renovations at this time, but (at least from the outside)
you wouldn't know Major Magic's was ever there. There a few tenants
still in the building, but I'm not sure exactly which unit house MM.
The former Major Magic's in Ann Arbor is now a Chuck E. Cheese. I have
never been in there, however upon glancing through the windows, it
seemed as though they kept the same basic design that most, if not
all, of the MM's building designs had.
There may have been a Major Magic's at the former Wonderland Mall in
Livonia, however I have yet to confirm this. If anyone has any
information about this location, please post!
From what I've heard about the 3 locations in New York, it was these
that caused the downfall of the franchise. The former owner of the
Major Magic's Corporation, Bob Ratiot (sp?), decided to expand into
New York after being successful in Michigan. However, he opened up 3
locations there at once. Comibined with public lack of knowledge and
high property costs, Bob lost a lot of money (Bob also owned a Major
Magic's racecar, into which he had invested a lot). These 3 locations
closed after only a couple years (as far as I know; it may have been
in the late 80s or early 90s), and soon the other locations followed
suit. He eventually sold off the rights to the other owners, and each
location was owned independently. If anyone ever has driven on I-94,
the Major Magic's Headquarters used to be near 15 mile and Harper
Ave., by Clinton Township.
Any information about these or any of the other locations would be
appreciated.
microlo...@yahoo.com
Great information! I didn't know that. There was one in ferndale on
9 mile. It was by the railroad tracks at hilton. That one has been
gone a LONG time though.. I'm not sure it made it into the 90s. I
wanna say I've seen the trailer for the racecar driving down the
road.. I'm sure that is long gone as well!
pop...@gmail.com
searching for Major Magic's photos!):
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2708934170045662100ykmcyV]
[IMG]http://thumb0.webshots.net/t/
60/160/9/34/17/2708934170045662100ykmcyV_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
pop...@gmail.com
<img src="http://thumb0.webshots.net/t/
60/160/9/34/17/2708934170045662100ykmcyV_th.jpg">
pop...@gmail.com
pop...@gmail.com
http://image60.webshots.com/160/9/34/17/2708934170045662100ykmcyV_fs.jpg
microlo...@yahoo.com
> The link I put was to the thumbnail, here's the full image:
>
> http://image60.webshots.com/160/9/34/17/2708934170045662100ykmcyV_fs.jpg
link doesn't work :)
nsi...@gmail.com
> my job had me covering Toledo. The place was such a literal shit-hole
> that I turned around and left after about 2 minutes. The place stunk
> like a locker room, barely any classics, more than half of the games
> were not working and there literally was no one in the place. On top
> of it, it is in a horrible location in one of the seedier parts of
> town. I'm surprised its stayed open this long.
What planet were you visiting?
You couldn't possibly be talking about the Major Magics on Monroe
Street in Sylvania, Ohio!
It is well-managed, well-run and clean, loaded with the latest arcade
machines and often packed with excited kids and young adults.
Sylvania is far from "the seedier parts of town" - it is one of the
most affluent parts of suburban Toledo!
And the pizza made fresh there is crispy and delicious and beats any
from the pizza shops in the greater Toledo area.
Even though my kids are now grown and too old for the MM birthday
parties, it is my personal favorite place to get pizza.
The for sale listing simply said the guy has other interests now.
Watch a venture capitalist type jump in and snap it up, add a few new
bells and whistles and turn it into a money machine.
When the economy is sinking like it is now, people turn back to
economical entertainment for kids' night out.
microlo...@yahoo.com
> Watch a venture capitalist type jump in and snap it up, add a few new
> bells and whistles and turn it into a money machine.
> When the economy is sinking like it is now, people turn back to
> economical entertainment for kids' night out.
i hope you're right, but i think you're wrong.